To think my colleague has put me on a diet?

[sayyouwill]

lighthearted

So in my office there is one girl who has nominated herself as the ‘lunch getter’ as she is the* only one who has the time to actually leave the building on her break. She is the most junior so has a lighter workload than the rest of us. The rest of us just eat at our desk or take 10 mins where we can. We have nowhere to store food from home either so I tend not to bring* it in.
Anyways, so every time I* tell her what I want, ‘conveniently’ the shop doesn’t have it or she gets me the ‘light’ or ‘diet’ version by ‘mistake’. Even if there are 3 of us having the same sandwich, she’ll give the other two* theirs and mine will be the ‘light’ version!

Thing is... I’m* not even big!! I’m a size 12 so not super super skinny, but I go to the gym 3 times a week and don’t eat a lot of crap. I’m genuinely staring to think that she is trying to ‘thin me down’ or something!*

So, AIBU to start fattening her up? She’s* a tiny little thing and I* think it would be sweet revenge...

[Dozer]

Perhaps if the junior colleague receieved some information and training she would be able to do more of the actual work of the business, improve her skills, and have less time to run errands for colleagues.

As a PP says, long hours/overwork seems to be the norm in your organisation: unhealthy and unproductive. They are in breach of working time regulations on breaks.

They don’t even provide a fridge and are content to de facto pay someone employed in an admin/business role to run errands because people feel it’s unacceptable to take a short lunch break. They don’t pay for an actual food delivery service.

If you are content to continue to treat your colleague this way, just specify no substitutes.

[WildBluebelles]

and i have never come across someone who happily and through their own free will chooses to use their unpaid 30 minute lunch break to skivvy for others. Never - and i've been 'junior' plenty of times myself as well

Calm down, she probably gets her own from the same shop at the same time. Same with coffee runs etc. It's not a huge deal, is it.
Knew that there would be someone popping up to remind us that in fact size 12 is obese and that the OP definitely needs to diet.

[cheetoLover]

Is "body fascist" something people now say seriously?

[AnneTwacky]

How come she's the only one with a dinner break long enough to go out and buy everyone's butties. Maybe she's fed up of being used. She shouldn't have to feel responsible for fetching food for the rest of you.
The easy answer to your problem, is to make your own lunch and bring it in with you or go out and get your own.

[StealthPolarBear]

On every thread asking how many hours do you work people work way over 40 hours a week..
On this thread where op works her half hour lunch break most people are saying she's a mug.
Different people? Or different perspectives for different threads

[sayyouwill]

@HeebieJeebies456 she’s junior as in her role, she is one of the oldest people in the office, having been there longer than anyone else. She is not in a senior position. She does not want to be trained or given an opportunity to do what we do. She isn’t some child sucking up to the big bosses in the hopes of being promoted. She’s a fully grown woman who does not want additional responsibility.
Yes she gets her lunch while she is out. If she chooses to do something different on her lunch break then she is not obligated to get us anything, someone else will go if that’s the case.

[Dozer]

People in these junior roles at companies in competitive fields do these things because it’s clearly expected and because they, and their time, are not valuable to the employer and colleagues.

Even worse IMO if they are asked with faux concern whether they “mind” and have to pretend they’re fine with it.

No one wants to be a skivvy every day.

Not taking time to eat is a health and prodictivity issue.

[sayyouwill]

@Dozer she does not want to progress within the company. She does not want to do what we do. Her work is important to the business, fortunately for her, her load is lighter and she doesn’t have strict deadlines.

[Dozer]

So the business is de facto happy to pay her for food delivery services, as part of her duties.

[ErnesttheBavarian]

Thing is, 'diet' versions are manky. Usually sky high in sugar to compensate for the removal of the fat and tasty aspects of the original food. Definitely the less healthy choice. I would never buy low fat or diet anything.

In your position, in would make it clear that sort food is the devil's work and she should never buy for you, a diet substitution.

I would also take a longer lunch break, make doubly sure she's ok with going for your lunchhbin the 1st place, and maybe buy her a little thank you gift.

Maybe you could volunteer for once to get the lunches, then see what a pita it is. It doesn't sound like a fun job tbh

[Walnutwhiplash]

This reminds me of a Victoria Wood story: 'I couldn’t get you raspberry yogurt. So I got you a meat and potato pie instead.'

[sayyouwill]

@Dozer what are you on about?

[sayyouwill]

@ErnesttheBavarian as I’ve said before, I often bring treats in for the office and she is always the first person offered. She knows how grateful everyone is and we do show it regularly. She wins employee of the month nearly every month (which is voted for by us, not management) and generally, I think she sees herself as the office ‘mum’ despite her only being about 10 years older than us.
We have checked and checked and checked whether she is still happy to do this and she is!

[Dozer]

How patronising you seem towards her.

[Alltheprettyseahorses]

I don't see the problem with her picking up lunches. In fact, thing back a long time to my office junior days, we used to squabble about who went on the senior staff's lunch run because we got to skive round the shops. Those queues at Greggs could be awful ...

[mikeyssister]

What gender are your colleagues and what age is this person?

[sayyouwill]

@mikeyssister we’re all female and she is 43

[flumpybear]

I’d just tell her my order and say please don’t get diet or light version , thanks .... see how that goes

[Somersetter]

I can't believe some posters have twisted this to make you in the wrong for working your lunch break

Lots of people work their lunch breaks - doesn't make them mugs. It might just mean they can get away on time when otherwise they couldn't.

She's rude for getting you the diet version - such strange behaviour.

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

I'd just talk to her, she sounds nice. I bet it happened because she got you a lighter version once when that was all that was left and you didn't say anything. She equated this and how you mentioned the gym once to mean that you like diet versions. Or you are the one who gets the default substitute because you don't seem to mind.

Most people aren't horrible.

You could tell her that you've read about lighter versions containing loads of junk and additives. So you are cutting all that out and going for the more natural full fat stuff.

[sayyouwill]

Thanks ladies, to those who haven’t twisted my words lol.

[Lucyyati]

Hahaha

[AngelaTwerkel]

I think a few people missed the "lighthearted," OP. Even though you bolded it!

Next time you make her a cuppa, put lard in it.*

*This is A JOKE for anyone wanting to call me sanctimonious or patronising.

[Willow2017]

Its really sad to see so many posters twisting this scenario despute op explaining the situation over and over. How people can twist it to make op some tyrant oppressing 'the poor subordinate workers' and forcing them to be at their beck and call from the clear scenarios she has posted is beyond me.

This isnt some put upon 16yr old office junior this is a mature woman who is quite happy in her job, who volunteers to get lunches while out on her break. I have known similar women in my working life who 'mother' younger staff because its thier nature and nobody looked down on them or abused thier good nature.

Having seen threads where people were told sometimes its a case of either sucking up having to working extra hours or complaining and losing your job/promotion its hilarious to see the opposite here and op being told to take a Lunch break and either get in trouble for being behind in her work or have to work late to make up.
I dont get a lunch break but would rather be in a job than the alternative.


Op if she is as nice as you say then ignore my previous post and just have a word with her on her own. Maybe she thinks younger people all drink/eat diet stuff. Just tell her you dont like it thanks.

Sounds like a good working environment apart from this issue.